Respect court’s decision : Govinda on slapgate

Bollywood actor Govinda, who was asked by the Supreme Court to apologise to a fan for slapping him in 2008, today said he respects the court’s order but will take a call only after he receives a copy of the judgement.

“I respect the decision of the Supreme Court which is of the highest order. I still haven’t received the court’s letter. So, I cannot comment on that. It’s a technical issue and I will refrain from commenting until I get the letter.

Once I get it I will let you know how I feel about it,” the actor told reporters.

The Supreme Court had yesterday advised Govinda to apologise to the fan who had lodged a complaint accusing the industry veteran of slapping and intimidating him while he was on a visit to the actor’s film sets on January 16, 2008.

“We enjoy your films, but cannot tolerate you slapping somebody,” a bench headed by Justice T S Thakur had said, while suggesting the actor to settle the dispute with complainant Santosh Rai.

The actor, 51, however, raised doubt behind Rai’s intention, saying how can someone continue to fight the case for so many years without some backing.

“A man who has no family here, who has nobody here. He got so much support and he reached the place illegally. It’s something to think about… Who is funding this… How’s it possible without it? So many years? It doesn’t seem normal. No fan can behave like this. This is for sure. Fans love the artists, they go out of the way to support them.

The court has fixed February 9 as the next date of hearing on Rai’s appeal.

The high court, in 2013, had quashed Rai’s private complaint lodged against Govinda before a metropolitan court in Mumbai.

Rai then appealed against the high court’s decision in the apex court.

Inputs by PTI